LAS VEGAS — The biggest move of the 2026 NFL offseason vanished into thin air. On Tuesday night, the Baltimore Ravens abruptly backed out of their massive trade agreement for Maxx Crosby after the star pass rusher failed his physical. Las Vegas instantly lost two first-round picks, and Baltimore scrambled, signing veteran Trey Hendrickson to a massive four-year deal just hours later.
Cold Feet and a Busted Knee
The Maxx Crosby trade felt like a done deal on Friday. Baltimore agreed to ship the No. 14 overall pick in 2026 and a 2027 first-round selection to Las Vegas to secure the 28-year-old defensive wrecking ball. Crosby even posted an emotional, 13-minute goodbye video to Raider Nation. He packed his bags, flew to Maryland, and walked into the Ravens’ facility.
Then, the medical staff intervened. Crosby underwent meniscus surgery in January. Baltimore’s doctors, along with independent specialists, balked at his long-term knee prognosis. General Manager Eric DeCosta killed the deal, leaving Crosby in limbo.
You could almost feel the whiplash inside the Raiders’ facility. Crosby wanted out. The relationship soured late in the 2025 season when Raiders GM John Spytek shut him down for the final two games. The edge rusher wanted to play through the pain. Now, the disgruntled star returns to the very front office that tried to trade him.
“Everything Happens For A Reason. Believe Nothing You Hear & Half Of What You See. Im A Raider. I’m Back.”
— Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders Defensive End
What’s Next for the AFC
The Ravens refused to panic. By Wednesday morning, Baltimore handed Trey Hendrickson a four-year, $112 million contract to give new head coach Jesse Minter the elite edge rusher his defense craves. Hendrickson plugs the hole instantly without requiring draft capital, keeping Lamar Jackson’s Super Bowl window wide open.
Las Vegas faces a massive headache. The Raiders sit with massive cap space but an angry star defensive end on the roster. Opposing general managers know Crosby’s knee terrified the Ravens, tanking his trade value. Spytek must either mend fences with his furious defensive captain or accept a severe discount from another edge-needy team like the Dallas Cowboys.
